FARGO, N.D. (trfnews.i234.me) — A Fargo man now faces a federal robbery charge after a Jan. 3 case at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in Fargo.
A federal grand jury indicted Phillip D. Parks, 36, on one count of Hobbs Act robbery. Court records say the indictment was filed Jan. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota.
Prosecutors say the case began at the Popeyes restaurant at 4510 19th Ave. S. in Fargo. They allege Parks took cash from an employee through force, threats, and fear of injury.
Federal case follows January arrest
Police first arrested Parks on Jan. 3 after a robbery report from the business. An employee was taken to a local medical center. The injuries were described as not life-threatening.
Authorities later found Parks that same afternoon. He was then taken to the Cass County Jail.
The new charge moves the case into federal court. The charge is tied to the Hobbs Act. That law covers robbery or extortion tied to interstate commerce.
According to the statute, a conviction can bring up to 20 years in federal prison. Federal prosecutors have not announced a trial date in the information released here.
What the charge means
A federal indictment is a formal accusation. It is not a conviction. The government must still prove the charge in court.
In this case, prosecutors say the robbery involved a business that operates in interstate commerce. That is why the Hobbs Act charge was used.
The case will now move through the federal court process in North Dakota. That process can include an arraignment, motions, plea talks, or a trial.
Readers can follow federal court information through the District of North Dakota court website. More background on the law is also available through the U.S. Department of Justice.
This story will be updated if new court filings are released.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.